Gwydir by-election date set

Gwydir Shire Council has tentatively set down Saturday 16 November as the date for a by-election, to find a replacement for Councillor David Rose.

Councillor Rose died earlier this month, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Council's General Manager Max Eastcott says a by-election needs to be held within three months, and a date has now been set.

He says a number of things will now occur in preparation for the by-election.

"At the next Council meeting the Council needs to formally appoint the State electoral commission to hold the by-election, and from next week we'll be advertising in all the local papers, advising people they need to make sure they're on the role," he said.

"If they're a non-resident ratepayer they need to apply to be placed on the role, and that process will close on the October 8."

Max Eastcott is encouraging members of the community to look at standing as a candidate on the nine-person Council.

But he says anyone interested will need to act fast.

"The timing is a little unfortunate because [the Electoral Commission] obviously don't want to go over into December, so they've compressed the process down somewhat, so it will be quite a quick process," he said.